Since the dawn of online multiplier player esports tournaments worldwide, betting has been discussed, primarily esports betting based on the esports fixture from a given tournament. In recent news, Riot Games’ COO, Whalen Rozelle, has announced that they are open to teams within their esports leagues having betting sponsors. In this article, we will examine this situation, how this decision can impact the future of esports, and whether it is needed now.
Riot Games Confirms That Esports Teams Will Be Allowed To Have Betting Sponsors
Image Credits: Riot Games
Sports betting has been discussed for the last thirty years. In the past, multiple countries have banned betting on sports events. However, in 2024, it became prevalent in all major sporting events worldwide. The sports betting industry is reported to be increasing worldwide by USD 218 billion annually.
Various individuals had mixed reactions following the Riot Games announcement concerning the news. On Dec 16, the Chief Operating Officer of Riot Games, Whalen Rozelle, confirmed these reports. In a post on the social media platform X, he stated the following:
“A few weeks ago, we told partnered LoL Esports and VCT teams in the Americas and EMEA that starting in 2025, they’ll be allowed to explore partnerships with Riot-approved betting platforms. This decision wasn’t made lightly—it’s the result of careful study and planning to settle on a move that will unlock new revenue opportunities for teams while protecting competitive integrity and the overall fan experience.”
This was a long time coming within the Esports ecosystem. Certain betting websites have already sponsored tournaments. 1xBet became the PGL CS2 Copenhagen Major 2024 office betting partner in February. Riot Games also mentioned that all sports books partnering with teams must meet local regulatory and licensing requirements and match Riot’s content and promotion requirements for this category. Riot Games will have the final say on how teams can advertise their betting sponsors on their social media channels.
What’s Next For VALORANT and League Of Legends Esports?
This ruling applies only to teams in the EMEA and Americas regions. Thus, teams like Paper Rex in VCT and T1 in League of Legends cannot onboard a betting sponsor. The worrisome factor concerning this ruling is more related to VALORANT.
VALORANT has an age limit of 16. In various countries worldwide, people cannot participate in betting before they turn 18. It is well reported that VALORANT Esports has a younger age demographic watching it compared to traditional esports titles like CS2 and Dota.
Riot Games has stated that teams cannot have betting sponsor logos on their jerseys. This ensures teams do as little advertising as possible while broadcasting their events. The other point is that these sponsorships will generate additional revenue for various teams. Due to this, there is a chance that players’ salaries within the various Esports leagues. The only worry some teams could face is that if Riot Games goes back on this decision, it will backfire on the team’s finances.